Vit. D?
05-20-2010, 07:52 PM
#3
FitDay Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 576
The average person gets at least the daily recommended amount of vitamin D from spending 15 minutes in direct sunlight. Lighter-skinned people can get even more from the same. If you have naturally darker skin, you may have to spend more time outside. Luckily, you don't have to do it all at once, you can do it in 5-10 min spurts throughout the day.
Last edited by tandoorichicken; 05-28-2010 at 03:47 AM. Reason: Clarification.
05-21-2010, 04:22 AM
#6
FitDay Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 115
When I went to the doc in December, he said that the recommendation for Vitamin D is now closer to 800 units per day, double what it used to be. This is mainly for people in the higher latitudes like me and north of here (and the far south) because our days are so short in spring, summer and fall, and also the tilt of the sun through the atmosphere means that more sunlight is filtered before it gets to the surface of the earth.
I take a supplement of D and Calcium together. My uncle was recently diagnosed (good weight, very active guy) with osteoporosis and has compression fractures in his spine--he's in his 50's. NOT what I want. I'd rather take the supplement and have too much Calcium/D than end up with osteoporosis.
I take a supplement of D and Calcium together. My uncle was recently diagnosed (good weight, very active guy) with osteoporosis and has compression fractures in his spine--he's in his 50's. NOT what I want. I'd rather take the supplement and have too much Calcium/D than end up with osteoporosis.
05-28-2010, 04:04 AM
#7
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 576
It's still important to get D through diet though, as it facilitates calcium and magnesium absorption in the gut. D in the blood might be good for other things (mood, cellular health, metabolism), but it does nothing for mineral absorption.
06-01-2010, 07:10 AM
#8
FitDay Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 115
I think the number is actually 8000 IU (missed a zero). The old recommendations used to be below 5000. I've read that 15 minutes of sun exposure (maybe 20-30 at high latitudes) generates 10,000 IU and dumps it directly into the blood stream. Funny that...
It's still important to get D through diet though, as it facilitates calcium and magnesium absorption in the gut. D in the blood might be good for other things (mood, cellular health, metabolism), but it does nothing for mineral absorption.
It's still important to get D through diet though, as it facilitates calcium and magnesium absorption in the gut. D in the blood might be good for other things (mood, cellular health, metabolism), but it does nothing for mineral absorption.
06-02-2010, 04:49 AM
#10
FitDay Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 100
A lack of vitamin D can have a huge effect on an active lifestyle. My doc recommended adding 1000 IU of vitamin D because I was having trouble recovering from workouts (dizziness, blurred vision, headaches). After a week, of Vitamin D I could increase my workouts from 20 minutes to 1 hour. I live in a more northern location and get a rash if I expose my skin to the spring, summer and fall sun for more than 5 or 10 minutes at a time without protection, so supplements are important.
I get my vit D from my calcium supplement, soy milk, fortified OJ and vit D supplements. If you google vitamin D, you'll find a lot of information on natural sources (including Wikipedia).
I get my vit D from my calcium supplement, soy milk, fortified OJ and vit D supplements. If you google vitamin D, you'll find a lot of information on natural sources (including Wikipedia).
